Dec 30, 2022
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Kukeri Wines
| Owner(s) | Petar Kirilov |
| Web site | www.kikeriwines.com |
| Link to this site |
A boutique winery sourcing Pinot Noir grapes from the Petaluma Gap, Los Carneros and the Russian River Valley. The founder and winemaker is Petar Kirilov, who grew up in Bulgaria and graduated in 2002 with a Master's Degree in winemaking from the University of Food Technologies. He traveled to California to learn more about winemaking and secured an internship at Truchard Vineyards in Napa Valley. In 2005, he joined the hi-tech wine company, Vinovation, where he has been involved in research. In 2008, Petar joined Meadowcroft Wines and Foyt Wines as winemaker. He is also the founder of the wine industry website, VinoEnology.com.
In 2013, Petar started his own brand, Kukeri Wines. focusing on small lots of premium wines from single vineyards in the Napa Valley and Sonoma County. VArietals include Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Kukeri refers to a pagan Bulgarian ritual that may date back as far as 8,000 years to the ancient Thracians, and to Dionysus, the god associated with wine, fertility and rebirth.
Articles About Kukeri Wines
Reviewed Wines
2016 Kukeri Lakeville Vineyard Petaluma Gap Pinot Noir
14.4% alc., pH 3.56, TA 0.62, 175 cases, $42,
screw cap. Double Gold 2019 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. 100% Martini clone. 100% destemmed.
3-day cold soak, fermented with ‘prise de mousse’ yeast. Aged 17 months in French oak barrels,
40% new.
·
Moderate garnet color in the glass. Aromas of well-ripened black fruits along with notes of fertile
earth, spice, boysenberry and raisin. Creamy in the mouth in a mid weight style with discretely concentrated
fully-ripened purple and black fruit flavors with a dark cocoa and dark milk chocolate tone typical of the Martini
clone. Subtle, oak-driven marzipan flavor plies the background..The wine’s balance is spot on and the finish is
long and generous.
Score: 91.
Reviewed February 3, 2019
ARTICLE »
2016 Kukeri Lakeville Vineyard Petaluma Gap Pinot Noir
14.4% alc., pH 3.56, TA 0.62, 175 cases, $48.
Double Gold from the 2019 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. 100% Martini clone. 100% destemmed,
3-day cold soak, fermented with ‘prise de mousse’ yeast, and aged 17 months in French oak barrels,
40% new.
·
Moderate garnet color in the glass. Aromas of well-ripened fruit including boysenberry and raisin,
with added aromas of spice, fertile earth and subtle oak. Creamy in the mouth, with a mid weight core of very
ripe purple and black fruits, even roasted in character. There is the typical dark chocolate notes of the Martini
clone. Oak contributes some marzipan and spice notes most evident on the robust finish.
Score: 89.
Reviewed March 23, 2019
ARTICLE »
2016 Kukeri Lakeville Vineyard Petaluma Gap Pinot Noir
14.4% alc., pH 3.56, TA 0.62, 175 cases, $42, screw cap. Double Gold 2019 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. 100% Martini clone. 100% destemmed. 3-day cold soak, fermented with ‘prise de mousse’ yeast. Aged 17 months in French oak barrels, 40% new. · Moderate garnet color in the glass. Aromas of well-ripened black fruits along with notes of fertile earth, spice, boysenberry and raisin. Creamy in the mouth in a mid weight style with discretely concentrated fully-ripened purple and black fruit flavors with a dark cocoa and dark milk chocolate tone typical of the Martini clone. Subtle, oak-driven marzipan flavor plies the background..The wine’s balance is spot on and the finish is long and generous. Score: 91. Reviewed February 3, 2019 ARTICLE »
2016 Kukeri Lakeville Vineyard Petaluma Gap Pinot Noir
14.4% alc., pH 3.56, TA 0.62, 175 cases, $48. Double Gold from the 2019 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. 100% Martini clone. 100% destemmed, 3-day cold soak, fermented with ‘prise de mousse’ yeast, and aged 17 months in French oak barrels, 40% new. · Moderate garnet color in the glass. Aromas of well-ripened fruit including boysenberry and raisin, with added aromas of spice, fertile earth and subtle oak. Creamy in the mouth, with a mid weight core of very ripe purple and black fruits, even roasted in character. There is the typical dark chocolate notes of the Martini clone. Oak contributes some marzipan and spice notes most evident on the robust finish. Score: 89. Reviewed March 23, 2019 ARTICLE »